Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program | USDA NIFA CGP 006950

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 006950

The Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program is a competitive grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) that supports projects aimed at improving higher education in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences (often referred to as the FANH sciences). It is designed for institutions that want to tackle a real educational need that matters beyond a single campus, whether that need is state, regional, national, or even international in scope. In practice, the program is looking for strong, clearly defined education-focused problems and solutions that can demonstrate measurable improvements in teaching, learning, training, or educational capacity in areas connected to agriculture and related sciences.

A central theme of the HEC program is innovation with a purpose. Proposed projects are expected to use creative or non-traditional approaches rather than simply expanding existing activities in a routine way. The intent is to fund efforts that can become models other institutions can adopt or adapt, meaning the project should be designed with transferability in mind. A successful proposal typically does more than solve a local issue; it produces methods, tools, curricula, partnerships, or evidence-based strategies that others in the higher education and agricultural education community can replicate.

Another major emphasis is collaboration and relationship-building. The program encourages projects that strengthen working relationships within the university science and education community and also promote meaningful partnerships between universities and the private sector. This could include collaborations with industry, nonprofits, government partners, or other external organizations that can contribute expertise, facilities, data, experiential learning placements, or additional resources. The idea is to enhance program quality and stretch available resources by building networks that improve educational outcomes and strengthen the broader ecosystem supporting agricultural and food systems education.

The HEC program also prioritizes lasting impact. Funded projects are expected to generate benefits that extend beyond the grant period and beyond the period of USDA support. This generally means planning for sustainability, such as embedding new curricula into degree programs, creating durable instructional materials and platforms, building long-term partnerships, training faculty in methods that continue to be used, or establishing structures that persist after funding ends. Reviewers typically want to see that the project will not disappear when the budget ends and that the results will continue to serve students, educators, and institutions.

Eligibility is focused on institutions of higher education with the capacity to teach in the FANH sciences, and applicants must meet the specific Eligible Institution/Organization definition outlined in the Request for Applications (RFA), referenced as Appendix III in the announcement. Applications may be submitted by U.S. public or private nonprofit colleges and universities that offer a baccalaureate or first professional degree in at least one FANH-related discipline. Land-grant institutions are specifically included, including land-grant institutions in the Insular Areas. The program also welcomes colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments, provided they can demonstrate the capacity to carry out teaching in food and agricultural sciences, along with other institutions that can show a similar teaching capacity in these fields. In short, the program is open to a range of higher education institutions, but all must align with the FANH educational mission and satisfy the RFA eligibility criteria.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is a discretionary grant program administered by USDA NIFA under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA CGP 006950 and CFDA (Assistance Listing) 10.217. The original closing date listed for this specific announcement cycle was April 2, 2020, and the maximum award amount (award ceiling) was $750,000. The announcement was created on September 24, 2019.

• The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Higher Education Challenge (HEC) Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.217.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-09-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-04-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for USDA NIFA CGP 006950

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: